Nutcracker.



R. A. K. TRABER.

NUTORAGKER.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 31, 1913.

1 ,087,6 1 7; Patented Feb. 17, 1914 2 sums-sum: 1.

R. A. K. TRABER. NUTORAOKER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1913.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

torsion.

RALPH A. K. TRABER, QE- iEE. LOUIS, MIESSQUBI- NUTCRAJKER Specificationof Eetters Patent.

Patented Feb.17,1914.

Application filed January 31, 19-13: Serial No. 745,311.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH A. K. Terran, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have inventedcertain new and useful improvements in Nutcrackers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to nutcrackers, and has for its primary objectto provide an 3113 proved nutcracker that is simple to construct,inexpensive to manufacture, and effective in operation.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of anutcracker having an adjustable stop or jaw that can be quickly andeasily set in proper relation to the nut to be cracked, and, also, acracking plunger or jaw that has a relatively long stroke so that sameefiectively cracks an kind of a nut without the necessity of resettingthe adjustable stop or jaw.

A further object of the present invention consists in the provision of anutcracker in which the cracking plunger or jaw is connected to theoperating lever in such manner that the greatest power is obtainedduring the initial cracking of the nut.

Further, the present invention consists of the novel features ofconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings formingpart of this specification, in whichlike nurn-- bers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur,Figure l is a perspective view of a nutcracker embodying the presentinvention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same,

partly in section; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of same; andFig. 4c is aside elevation of an alternative form of the present invention;

In the drawings, the frame or support may be a one-piece casting asillustrated or constructed in any desired manner. The upper part of theframe or support is formed with somewhat of an inverted U-shapedcross-sectional configuration to afford a housing 2 for the crackingplunger 3. A vertical arm 1 borne by the frame or support has arearwardly extending horizontal part 4. which projects below the housing2 ata suilicient distance therefrom to receive the top of a table 5 orother support between same and the housing 2 and contains ascrew-threaded openingwhich receives a.

clamp-screw 6 or the like for attaching the nutcracker to said table orsupport 5. The

plunger 3 extends through an opening 7 in the housing 2 and has anenlarged outer end 8, which contains a socket or depression 9 for thereception of either an end or a side of a nut (not shown) to be cracked.The inner end of the plunger 3 is pivotally connected at 10 to andbetween the bifurcations 11 on the lower end of the operating lever 12,which is pivotally attached to and be-' tween the side walls of thehousing 2 by a pin 13 or-other suitable means. 12 extends through ancpeningld in" the housing 2, and may bear a handle 15 of any size orshape, the opposite end walls 16 and- 17 of said opening 14: beingpreferably arranged so as to limit the movement of the lever 12 andbeing spaced at sufficient distance apart to permit said lever to haveample movement to produce a relatively long stroke of the plunger 3. Inthe present instance, when the lever 12 is rocked coun- The levertor-clockwise, Fig. 2, on its pivot 13 from engagement with the wall 16of the opening let to engagement with the wall 17 of said opening, samewill move the plunger 3 out-- wardly through the opening 7 in thehousing 2 to the position depicted in dotted lines,

while reverse movement of the lever 12 will draw the plunger inwardlyand restore it to normal position.

A block or jaw 18 is located directly in i front of the outer end 8 ofthe plunger and forwardly projecting arm 19 formed on the vertical arm4: of the frame or support,'so

as to be movable toward and away from the plunger 3 in substantially thesame vertical is adj-ustably supported on an extension or plane withsaid plunger, said extension or arm 19 being preferably reinforced by aweb 20, so as to have a T-shaped cross sectional configuration, andhaving a plurality of notches 21 formed transversely in its uppersurface- Flanges 22 projecting downwardly and inwardly from the sides ofthe block 18 underlie the side edges of the extension or arm 19 andthereby not only hold the block in place on said extension or arm, but,also, guide the movement of said block, and a handle 23 borne by saidblock aifords a means for moving same along said extension or arm, saidhandle being preferablyprovided with an opening '24 to receive a fingeror thumb in an obvious manner. In the face of the block 18 toward theplunger 8 there is formed a socket .or depression .25, which is locateddirectly in front of receive one end or side of the nut while the socket25 in said block will receive the 4 opposite end or side ofthe nut.

A heel or proghction 26 borne by the block 18 seats in a notch 21 in theextension or arm 19 and thereby holds said block from movement when anutis pressed against the latter by the outward movement of the plunger3, with the result of causing the nut to be cracked. It will be observedthat ample space is left between the flanges 22 of the block 18 and thelower face-of the extension or arm 19, in order to allow the block,

'18 to be raised sufliciently to withdraw the heel 26 from a notch 21 sothat the block can be moved along the extension or, arm

and set with the heel seating in another notch 21.' By this arrangement,the distance between the block 18 and the plunger 3 can} be increased ordecreased for different sizes of nuts. The notches 21 are preferablyarranged so that, when it is desired to move the block 18 towardtheplunger 3-, it is unnecessary to raise the block so as to withdraw'theheel 26 from a notch 21, for the reason that during such movement ofsaid block the notches 21 will; allow the heel to ride thereover,whereas, when it is desired to move the block 18 away from the plunger3, it is necessary-to raise the block sutliciently to withdraw the heel26 from a notch 21 preparatory to such movement. A pin or projection 27borne by the extension or arm 19 adjacent to the end thereofprevents'the block from sliding 05 said extension or arm.

In order to crack a nut, the lever 12 is moved to the position depictedin full lines, Fig. 2, if not in such position, so to re tract theplunger 3, and, then the nut is placed with amend or a side thereof inthe socket 9 in the outer end. 8 of said plunger, after which theblock18 is moved toward the plunger 3, in the manner hereinabove described,until the opposite end or side of the. nut seats or nearly seats in thesocket 25 in said block and the heel 26 of said block seats in a notch21 in the extension .or arm 19, whereupon the lever is rockedcounter-clockwise, with the result of causing the plunger 8 to moveoutwardly and press the nut against the block 18 with sufficient forceto crack same. By moving the lever in the opposite direction so as to retract the plunger 3 after the nut has been cracked, the cracked nut maythen be removed from between said plunger and. the block.

It vwill be obs 12 occupies its. nor the plunger in Pd that, whenthe-lever position so as to hold -'-f;-tracted position, the

' The fact that "the lever 12 Leaner? vantage of this arrangement beingthat, during the initial movement oi? the lever 12, although the plunges'3 is moved relatively slow, the greatest power. is tr itted' to samefor the initial crust the nut.

parts a relativelydbng stroke to the plunger 3 as here- 'inabovedescribed enables the operator to crack any kind'of a nut with but onemove ment of the lever and, without'the necessity of resettingthe block18.. This feature is of particular advantage when cracking nuts of onekinder. ofsilbstantially the same size, for the reasonrthat the block 18can be set at a; predetermined distance from the outer end'of theplunger 3 so as to allow the nut to be placed with an end or a sidethereof in the socket 25 in said block, after which the lever 12 isfirst moved so as to bring the ,outer end of the plunger against theopposite end or side of the nut and then is moved farther in the samedirection, with the result of causing the plunger to crack the nutagainst the block. It will be'evi dent that, when the nutcracker is usedfor cracking mixed nuts or nuts of various sizes, the block 18 can beeasily and quickly adjusted as hereinabove described, in order toincrease or decrease the distance between same and the plunger 3 for thediflerent sizes.

In the alternative form of the invention depicted in Fig. l, the housing2 is omitted entirely and the lever 12 is pivotally attached at 13 to anupright 28 borne by the frame or support 1. The plunger 3 extendsthrough an opening 29 in a guide 30 borne by the frame or support 1, andis pivotally attached at 10 to the lever 12 in such manner that, whensaid lever occupies its normal position to hold the plunger 3 in itsreing 29 in the guide 30 when the plunger is moved outwardly, therebycausing the outer end of said plunger to move substantially parallel tothe extension or arm 19.

Minor changes; in the structural details and arrangement of parts may bemade without depart ng from the nature and spirit of the. presentinvention,

1 claim: 7

i. ll nut cracker consisting of a frame having a lower portion termedwith a .re'arwardly extending horizontal part, means borne by the saidhorizontal p'artf to clamp the frame 7 onto a support,a -horizontalmember extend central vertical arm that has itsing rearwardly of the armand having its lower portion for seating engagement on the support, saidmember having a horizontal guide opening at its front, a horizontalplunger in the guide opening, a lever pivoted to the rear of the supportand to the plunger, :1 horizontal arm extending forwardly of thevertical arm and connected to the latter, and a jaw on the horizontalarm for cooperation with the plunger.

2. A nut cracker consisting of a frame having a central vertical armthat has its lower portion formed with a rearwardl'y ex tending clampcarrying horizon?" 3]. part, to clamp the frame onto a support, ahorijzontal housing of in erted U-shape in crosssection at the upper endof the arm'having its freeedges for'engagement with the top face of thesupport, the ends of the housing being vertically disposed and closed,the rout end of the housing having a horizontal guide opening and therear end having an elongated opening, a piunger within the housinghaving its front end extending through said guide opening, a leverhaving one end extending through the opening in the housing top andbeing pivotally connected to the housing and to the rear end of saidplunger, a horizontally disposed arm connected to and extendir forwardlyof the vertical arm, and a jaw on the horizontal arm for cooperationwith the plunger.

in testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in th presence of twowitnesses.

RALPH A. K, TRABER. Witnesses:

GEORGE G. ANDERSON, HARRY H. REISS.

